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Ototoxins
Ototoxic agents are either man made or naturally occurring substances and chemicals knownto damage the ear. The study of Ototoxins is relatively new. Promising research is ongoing inan effort to explain how ototoxins damage the human ear and what can be done to eliminate orminimize risk of hearing loss as result of exposure.
Ototoxic agents are in forms of heavy metals, solvents, asphyxiant gases, medications, andcertain mother-in-laws.
In the early to mid 1900s, many Aminoglycoside anti-biotics were developed to fight infection.These high-powered drugs saved many lives; it was unknown, however, that these new anti-biotics were causing significant hearing loss. Aminoglycoside anti-biotics are still used today inextreme cases. Most current day anti-biotics leave the auditory mechanism in tact. Knownototoxic anti-biotics are:
Life-saving medical procedures most always take precedence over potential ill side effects.Advances in cancer treatment have developed Anti-Neoplastics. A major anti-cancer drugresponsible for hearing loss is Cisplatin. Cisplatin is still commonly utilized in high doses totreat highly difficult forms of cancer such as Ovarian and Bladder cancer. Known ototoxic anti-Neoplastics include:Diuretics are well represented in the family of ototoxins. Hearing loss due the ingestion ofdiuretics is often reversible. However, the use of diuretics in conjunction with aminoglycosideanti-biotics will permanently damage the aural mechanism. Known ototoxic diuretics include:2008 T K Group, Inc.1781 S. Bell School Rd. | Cherry Valley, IL 61016Phone: 815.332.3460 | Fax: 815.332.5175Company Website: http://www.tkontheweb.comQuinines (drugs used to treatment Malaria and similar diseases) are documented ototoxins.Known ototoxic quinines include:
Many Environmental Chemicals used today in industry are known ototoxins. The full effectupon the aural mechanism resulting from either heavy or casual exposure to these agents isunder investigation. Of great interest is the combined effect of environmental ototoxicchemicals and noise exposure. Research studies using laboratory animals are showing thatthe interaction of noise combined with ototoxic drugs and/or environmental agents issignificantly damaging.
Many industrial solvents are ototoxic. Solvents damage the aural mechanism by affecting theeither the hair cells within the cochlea directly, or by affecting the ear associated neuralpathways of the central nervous system.
Toluene (used as thinners and degreasers) is commonly used in today s industry. CarbonDisulfide is another ototoxin commonly seen in the textile industry.
Known environmental chemicals and solvents include:
2008 T K Group, Inc.1781 S. Bell School Rd. | Cherry Valley, IL 61016Phone: 815.332.3460 | Fax: 815.332.5175Company Website: http://www.tkontheweb.com
Finally, Aspirin is a known Ototoxin. Individuals with Arthritis often heavily use aspirin. Hearingloss caused by the ingestion of aspirin is reversible when ingestion of the substance is ceased.
The presence of potential ototoxic interactions underlines the importance of obtaining acomplete aural case history when performing industrial audiometry. Knowledge of significantpast ototoxin exposure may certainly be useful information when evaluating occupationalhearing loss.
Research may in the future allow the development of tests to evaluate hearing lossesattributable to ototoxic exposure. It is most probable that any hearing loss due truly to ototoxicexposure in industry is due to chronic long- term exposure-not one or two time exposure._________________________________________________________
Authored by: Robert Williams, Au.D. | Director Audiology | T K Group, Inc.2008 T K Group, Inc.1781 S. Bell School Rd. | Cherry Valley, IL 61016Phone: 815.332.3460 | Fax: 815.332.5175Company Website: http://www.tkontheweb.com

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